Compare towns
Gardner vs Killingly vs Derby vs Ashburnham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Ashburnham has the highest household income ($119k).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Gardner | Killingly | Derby | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
17,867 |
12,487 |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3 5% above U.S. |
| Derby and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derby and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$79,500±$11k about the U.S. average |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$390,700±$34kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,452±$95 about the U.S. average |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 33% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,510 77% above U.S. |
$6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.9%±12.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashburnham and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #273 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Derby School District | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Killingly High School | Derby High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.1 |
9.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.